Hollow Feeling in Stomach /Depressive Feelings With Let Down when BFing

[Macrina]

Anyone else get a hollow feeling in their stomach and a depressive feeling that is fleating just before let-down of milk?

This is a phenomenon I have been dealing since having my third child and I have been finding other mothers online who have experienced it as well. Goodness knows there must be a ton more out there. But according to the professionals it is an un-researched/un-diagnosed/un-talked about problem that most mothers as embarrassed to bring up to anyone.

Since I am a CLC as well as a mom with this problem I was able to spark the interest of some published breastfeeding gurus. And we have been emailing as we try to sort it all out through research and blood tests.

http://emotionalletdown.blogspot.com/

I have a blog (that right now is completely unscientific!) that follows my journey of uncovering what makes this happen and how to fix it if anyone is interested. Please post or PM me if you, as a nursing mother, have experienced this too!

[@llli*FluffyN]

Yup! I think my very first post on this forum was about that very phenomenon. Its a topic that comes up here from time to time.
Here it is:
http://forums.llli.org/showthread.php?t=5619
Here's another:
http://forums.llli.org/showthread.php?t=22080
and another:
http://forums.llli.org/showthread.php?t=17401
one more
http://forums.llli.org/showthread.php?t=862

And an article from kellymom that touches on it:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/nausea-bf.html

For me the wacky letdown emotions stabilized somewhat around 6-7 months emotions though I still feel it at certain times of the month.
Good luck with your research. I'll be interested in seeing what you uncover!

[Macrina]

Thank you for the threads, I had not been able to search to find them. And I have seen the kellymom page before, I have it quoted in the blog. But it is SOOO little info that after reading it, it leaves you saying, "what? that's it? why?!?" And despite Kelly having that tid bit in her page, among the professionals everybody has been shrugging their shoulders, not knowing why it happens or how HORRIBLE it really feels. And they haven't taken the time to figure out why because not enough moms are stepping forward to talk about it.

[@llli*FluffyN]

Originally Posted by Macrina

Thank you for the threads, I had not been able to search to find them.

Its hard to search for the threads through keywords because everyone describes it a little differently and since, like you said, its not an official "thing" with an actual name. I know there are more discussions about it too, but those were the ones I could come up with quickly. Your blog looks very interesting (I've only had a chance to scan because ). Adding to my bookmarks!


I think it is so interesting how hormones can effect people so differently. I remember my first LLL meetimg after my son was born and another mom saying that when she sat down to nurse she felt like "her heart was expanding so she could love the whole world" and others nodding in agreement. I though OMG I must be doing something terribly wrong.

[Macrina]

If you find anymore threads, send em to me, I am adding them to the links in my blog.

On one of the threads you linked to someone said it was let down blues and was oxytocin related. They also said it will pass. For some woman this feeling makes them think suicidal thoughts and saying it will pass is like telling a woman with PPD to get over it. And several woman said it DIDN'T pass until they weaned. Imagine how many women are weaning BECAUSE of this feeling. And this conclusion surprised me because there IS no research saying it is one hormone or another and if you read my blog you will see that that IBCLCs that I am working with had to rule out several other theories before we concluded it was hormonal. The thing is we still DO NOT know what hormone it is for sure. Oxytocin is a possibility but Vassopressin is another good possibility as well.

THANK YOU for you replies!

[@llli*bst.mama]

I just read your blog. Wow is all I can say. I recently have been dealing with some ppd. It was a fleeting feeling as described. I never attributed it to breastfeeding but Ironically Just as my milk lets down I sometimes would get that yuck kind of feel along with an insatiable thirst. It has gotten better and I am taking a low dose of zoloft which I dont like to admit. oddly enough this feeling reminds me of the guilty feelings I encountered during some of my first orgasms??? Im not sure but sometimes I feel hollow and consumed with thoughts of what ifs, does that make sense? For example what If I died, what if Sieann died, what if we both fell down the stairs. These thoughts are brief but sometimes I cant stop obsessing about them or feeling guilty for having them. I look at my happy child as I feed her and I don't understand why I feel this way. Sometimes I get a smaller variation of the feeling and sometimes I get it in overload. Maybe I'm reading to much into it but it is comforting to know that this may be what I am going through.

[@llli*juno]

I don't know how this feels, BUT I would like to for all those mama's who continue bfing dispite the depressions with letdown.

[@llli*FluffyN]

Originally Posted by Macrina

On one of the threads you linked to someone said it was let down blues and was oxytocin related. They also said it will pass. For some woman this feeling makes them think suicidal thoughts and saying it will pass is like telling a woman with PPD to get over it.

I don't think anyone was trying to be dismissive of other's feelings. We are all just trying to support eachother and share our common experiences. I can assure you that any mama who posted about being suicidal would NOT be told to "get over it".

[JAB]

I felt very panicky and had anxiety over BFing. I would tell my mom that I couldn't stand to sit there and nurse. She replied with, "Don't be ridiculous". I would also get sick to my stomach and very lightheaded (like I just did a loop on a rollercoaster). I would just wait for my head to drop onto my chest. It always did. I was also very sad. I attributed it to PPD.?.
I'll be following your Blog.

[@llli*danlynclark]

I had/have what I consider letdown anxiety. It used to happen everytime. Panic, anxiety, nausea upon letdown. Now, like Katie, I only get it every now and then. The thing is, I cannot physically feel my milk letdown. I wonder if this is connected?

Lyn

ETA I see that Katie linked to my thread (third down on the list)